This year has definitely brought new horizons for our family. It has been a year of many transitions, many trials, and ultimately many fresh beginnings.
Lesley finished her Master's degree and has now officially become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated with honors in May and now she has joined the staff of Health Essentials, Inc. Lesley enjoys the new responsibilities that are attached to the profession. Lesley presented a research paper on Women and Children with HIV/AIDS at a National Institutes of Mental Health conference in Chicago, and she spent some time in Louisville, Kentucky, connected with her new job training.		Rick is very pleased with the education he is receiving at Marquette. Marquette is a Jesuit institution, and some of his professors are priests, but those who aren't are just as pastoral and inspiring. The campus is beautiful and the academic environment is Rick's "element." April 2000 marked our fifth year of marriage, and to celebrate, we went to the Barry Manilow concert.
Lesley's family was here in Wisconsin for the first time for Thanksgiving. Her mother has also entered into a doctoral program at the University of Arkansas (Little Rock). Lesley continues to pursue her avocations of sci-fi collecting, cooking, and Tai Chi Chu'an. She also became the newsletter editor for the Waukesha District Nurses Association and is the Nominating Committee chairperson.	Rick has re-entered parish ministry, preaching every week at Presbyterian and Congregational churches in Waukesha County. He has also been admitted to the Ph.D. program at Marquette University. For many many years, Rick has been eager to earn a doctorate degree, and now the Lord Jesus has handed him the opportunity.
	Rick is completing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and hopes to be in a permanent pastorate within this year. He and Lesley became members of the Bethesda Presbyterian Church (right), where they feel very comfortable. Rick has published another article, this time in the November edition of History Treasures Magazine.
		The article is entitled "Some Political Legacies of the Puritans." In addition, Rick's book continues to gain more readers.

Rick was offered a position as Headmaster of a school in Green Bay, but the hopes that Mary would be allowed to stay at ULS, and an opportunity for Rick to serve a church here while completing a Ph.D., was more in keeping with the vision that Rick has had for his future.

Mary's mother seized upon this transition as the opportunity to force Mary to leave the place to which she had grown so attached, and to drag her back to a place she dreads. We are heartbroken about the agony that Mary is now experiencing in Maryland, but we have done everything we can to prevent her from suffering this fate. With the gracious assistance of Rick's dad, we aggressively pursued litigation on Mary's behalf. We flew back an forth to Maryland on several occasions this year to attend highly contentious courtroom trials conducted by lawyers who seemed not to possess a shred of concern about the reality of Mary's pain, but rather remain obsessed with their own fees and personal interests. Mary has been the victim of their insensitive operations. In light of her current uncomfortable situation, she appreciates your thoughts, prayers, and sympathy.

For Lesley and Rick, life continues to be very pleasant. With Mary away, we are going to try to fulfill more of Lesley's love of traveling. Earlier in the year, our traveling was mostly connected to Maryland and the trial. As the year goes on Lesley has more appealing destinations in mind. In December we intend to go to Las Vegas and, when Mary comes for the holiday, we will take a three day ski trip. During Spring Break we have our sights set on Great Britain! and for the summer, maybe Florida!

Whatever our lot, He hath taught us to say, "It is well with our souls."

As always, feel free to write, email, phone, or visit.

Sola Gratia,
Rick, Lesley, and Mary
[email protected]

Last Year's (1999) Letter
There is no 2001 Letter
The 2002 Letter is Here